The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1887-04-14

z-sny wAif OF the Sea oscasiona,l,
Found Fioatins ON she water
Two sailors entered a wholesale a l
store on lower Nassau street inc o.nsl /
day, carrying with them . parceiwh |
they handled as carefully as young
mother iondies ner inlahs tnsy
thought they had a piece OF amoergris'
which Is very costly substance usually
found in the beiiy9i a dyspepqeNsn'a'e' 4
They were confident they had some
thing worth about $4,000, but upon
examination, unforfu ii5tely y 4 was
found 70 be only hardened taiiow mixed
with dirt and salt-about as valuable
as a chattel mortgage on q hock OF
pigeons. The Captain could not believe
!. in the expert Judgment, andwent out,
still clutching his long7guarded treas
--re and expressing his dissatisfaction
with a liberal use OF profanity. similar
mistakes to the one already described
n ire often made in this city. Enc pro-
006rietor Of the store spoke Of fhe history
and uses of ambergris as foilows;
NEARLY every one is constantly using
u =
n ambergris. 1t iserery day in the hands
De II ladies and gentlemen throughout the
folworld, but comparatively fey people
know any thing about it, It's origin IS
disputed. Even SCIENTISTS do not agree
upon its.true source; and, although 1t
enters all houses where civilization
reaches and an immensely profitable
trade in the commodity is carried on,
niue out of ten people whom you nee'
would not know what you meant if you
mentioned its name. tits a slate-likt
substance, varying in colorSfrom dark
to light gray, the darker shades, which
are also denser in fiber, being the mos
valuable. piece weighing iron
twenty to thirty-five pounds is seen bu'
once in a life. time. The most OF 4
handled BY dealers is made up of piece
only few ounces in weight " !
worth to-day about $24 per ounce, an'
during the last few years has sold a
high as $40 per ounce in consequence
of its scarcity, Finding q piece Q
il is like finding a 70 note
You are as likely, or unlikely
to find it in one place as IN another
There are several theories as 70 y
origin, the generally-accepted one Dem
that it is an accumulation Of secrete
and indigestible matter in the STOMACH
ola sick whale. 1t is found all over IN
globe at rare intervals BY seafarin
men, either floating on the water, ca'
upon some shore or lodged INSIDE u ,
whale. The greatest source OF suppl
Is the Arctic ocean, and also the soutl
ern ATTITUDES, the usual cruising grroun
Of whaling vessels. The commander
arc always on the lookout Tor IL,
d among the superstitions OF the sea IL
considered an omen OF good luck i
theship ever afterward when her maste
brings home piece OF ambergris, :
is always allowed a portion Oh y
profits. You could put piece wor'
$4,000 in your overcoat pocket al
from this you can understand now u
toilers Of the ocean never cease the
vigilance in hunting for 1t.
ssThe fact that it is the most efficie
Known substance in producing 4
lasting quality in perfumery, gives it
enormous commercial value. Civet al
musk are used for the same purpos
but are not so powerful. When a pc
fume is made, white rose, cassia
heliotrope. for example, the odor OF t
flowers would quickly pass away,
the spirits forming the body OF
LIQUID evaporate Ambergris, howev'
prevents this, and is the indispensa'
boon that holds back the scent for da
and weeks upon the hapdkerchi
When treated with alcohol it divi'
itself up into an almost inhn
number of fine particles, viii
are mixed in the pcrfumery and
main on the fabric after the spil
have eyaporated, acting as minute res
yoirs and holding the pure essence
flower after the cloth is perfectly q
One ounce dissolved in a gallon OF al
:, Won would be required to use only
e;,, o1a nunpa of this tllcture Ill q gal